MY INCOMPLETE MANIFESTO

1. People watch

Go to a local coffee shop, walk down the street, travel by bus/subway, and just watch people.

2. Save money

No matter how much you make or how little, always save, because you never know when you will need it.

3. Socialize 

Don't forget to surround yourself with people, even if its going to the coffee shop down the street.

4. Take breaks

Stand up, stretch, coffee breaks, eat, etc.

5. Laugh

Watch stupid videos, movies, or talk with a friend who will make you laugh. Anything that will ease stress.

6. Don't take life too seriously

Not literally, have an appropriate amount of fun with what your doing what ever it may be. 

7. Be optimistic

Don't ever close your mind to anything, let ideas flow, make mistakes and continue to learn.

8. Explore

Travel,Visit places on the world you've never been. Expand your mind. Don't let your ideas end. There is always room for expansion.

9. Surround your life with sounds

Make it apparent that there are other people in the world. Filling your life with music, television, radio, street traffic, etc will make you feel less isolated. 

10. Never lose touch with family

No matter how many times a year you see them, spend that time with them wisely. They can inspire, love and be there for you.

11. Your not always right

Listen to others and what they have to say, it can be very valuable, influential and rewarding. 

12. Keep in touch with pop culture

It always helps you to get inspired when you know what is going on in the world.

13. Watch the news 

Find out what is going not only in your culture, but also in other cultures/parts of the world.

14. Don't sweat the small stuff

Seriously, don't.

15. Take criticism

You may not completely agree with some ones advice, but take it, good or bad. 

16. When you have spare time, use it

This time should be spent wisely, take advantage while you can.

17. Keep your frustration to a minimum 

Most of the time frustration is pointless, try to avoid it as much as possible and stay positive.

 

MARIAN BANTJES, BRUCE MAU, STEFAN BUCHER, AND STEFAN SAGMEISTER

After researching Marian Bantjes, Bruce Mau, Stefan Bucher, and Stefan Sagmeister I noticed a pattern in the way all of their work is developed and the final output of their designs. All of these specific designers started off at the bottom and slowly made their way up to a position where any graphic designer ideally wants to be in their career. I am referring to these designers being able to show their own style of work and bring it out in their particular paid jobs. To be a graphic designer as be chosen for a job based on the style of your work is something we graphic designers strive for. These designers are privileged and are extremely hard working. They may have worked countless hours in their life times, however in the end it all pays off.

All of these designers do not limit themselves to one particular type of design output. Marian Bantjes specializes in hand drawn design forms. Bruce Mau is well known for is “Incomplete Manifesto” He experiments with typography to the maximum. Stefan Bucher is well known for exploring illustrations, including the 100 days of monsters which are his creations each initially starting with an ink splat. Stefan Sagmeister is famous for his unique CD designs and his amazing ability to create type out of many different objects. Each of these designers have found their niche and are ideal at executing. I look up to them as a designer entering the intense highly competitive field.

LETTER TO STEFAN BUCHER

Dear Stefan Bucher   

I recently watched your make/think video about your portfolio work as a graphic designer. After viewing this I was inspired by the courage and fearlessness you have specifically to branch off and be a freelance graphic designer as a pose to working for a specific company expressing your own style. I was impressed by the way you to dig down into your sub conscious and bring out the most distinct and humorous ideas and follow through with them.

As a student about to join the working world of graphic design I look up to you and your ability to be able to make some of the most staggering designs that. I understand it must have been a struggle to get where you are today, the fact that you have no hesitation to make mistakes is a brave standpoint. You are a unique individual because you take something so simple such as an ink spot and make it into something playful, something that has never been thought of before. You are an inspiration to all students who want so badly to push their limits and style of design into their clients work. 

I find it incredibly interesting that when you first began your design career you were afraid of the internet and what it had in store for you because you thought it might be the end of print. In my situation the particular technology that makes me worry is the revolutionary tablets, particularly the Ipad (I don’t necessarily think it will be the end of books, however it is going to effect graphic designers). Like the internet for you, the Ipad is the latest technology, of my time as a designer, in which I have to learn to cope with and grow to evolve with, just as you evolved with the internet over time.

I am glad to have viewed your work and recognize your boldness towards design. By showing ones own particular style through their work, happiness follows it seems.

Thanks for inspiring me.

-Janelle Scriver

PANDA CHEESE

I chose to analyze the award winning commercial on Panda Cheese The following is information on the 3 particular commercials in the campaign being studied. This information includes, the Title Advertiser/Client Product/Service Advertising Agency Country Production Company Country. They are as the following,

KITCHEN A. DAIRY PANDA CHEESE ADVANTAGE MARKETING
& ADVERTISING, Cairo * EGYPT THE HOUSE, Cairo EGYPT

OFFICE A. DAIRY PANDA CHEESE ADVANTAGE MARKETING
& ADVERTISING, Cairo * EGYPT THE HOUSE, Cairo EGYPT

HOSPITAL A. DAIRY PANDA CHEESE ADVANTAGE MARKETING
& ADVERTISING, Cairo * EGYPT THE HOUSE, Cairo EGYPT

The commercial was awarded from Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.


This is the link to the commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X21mJh6j9i4&feature=related


Target Markets:
men between the ages of 25-45 who have a steady income with a stable job.  The average income that a person buying this product would make is over 100,000 yearly because it is more of an expensive brand of cheese.  In the commercials the option of panda cheese is given to the actor, which is predominantly a male, and if the male chooses against it, a panda will appear and cause a commotion. I feel as if they are trying to target men partially for this reason.


Cultural Themes:
There are three commercials which have certain cultural themes. One of them is a situation in an office where the product is being eaten by a male and his co-worker disagrees with the certain choice of product.  Another is at a hospital where a male is offered cheese and does not except the offer. The other is of a few men cooking at a restaurant and the main chief gets mad at the other cook for buying the wrong cheese. I think this is portraying with the whole idea of men taking an interest in cooking more so now-a-days than back in the 1960's when it was primarily women. The panda bear is a mascot in the product itself and using it in the commercial is humorous.

General Observations:
I noticed that the creators took a threat like approach to their campaign in a very humorous way. They made it clear that panda cheese is a high quality cheese to buy and you are absolutely crazy for not wanting it. The panda mascot in the commercials is basically forcing the male actor to choose the product based on it's quality and importance.

MY MEDIA USES

MY DESIGN PROCESS...

My design process always starts off by music playing in the background.
I start the coffee machine.
Before undergoing any sketches I like to look at what other designers have already done to get some inspiration. I do this by looking on the internet and looking through a variety of design books, I have my sketch book by my side in case anything pops into my head.
After looking through other designs I take a break and let my mind relax while I get my coffee.
I come back to my process and start off in my sketch book.
I brain storm as many ideas that come to mind when I think of my thesis. 

I sketch out some ideas and ask my roommates what their opinions are when I come up with something I think is brilliant. (because it may not be brilliant)
Once I am certain on my linears I show them to friends and professors.
They help me out and tell me what to improve.

THEN I start manipulating my ideas on the computer.
I gather any images i need from the internet or book sources. I also grab any typefaces which seem fitting to my desired design.
When finished my digital roughs I get my friends and professors to look at them once more and they let me know what I need to improve on and what looks satisfactory already.
I take this advice and come back to the computer, make my improvements and finish off the design.

DESIGN IS...

A planned out structure in which every element has a purpose to serve. Design is a well thought out process that has relevance to its motive. Design is something that must be understood visibly.

I found this image and thought it represented what design is and what it stands for very clearly...